Reviews tagging 'Grief'

Rise to the Sun by Leah Johnson

20 reviews

helaena's review

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emotional lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Wow, Leah Johnson. I don’t know how you managed to wrap so many difficult topics into just 320 pages and yet keep the romance between Toni and Olivia sweet and wholesome, but you did it! 🎡🎶🎸

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dananana's review against another edition

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hopeful lighthearted
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5


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bumblebroxbeeblebooks's review against another edition

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3.0

I wasn't really cool with the way trauma and gun violence was portrayed in this. The only thing I really enjoyed was the music festival aspect

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greenlivingaudioworm's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny reflective sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0


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erikawynn's review against another edition

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adventurous hopeful lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I loved You Should See Me in a Crown but insta-love storylines are really not for me! I feel like it would have been stronger if Olivia and Toni remained broken up and Olivia realized she needs to learn to take romantic relationships more slowly and not take her friends for granted .

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samone2's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional hopeful lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75


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toberomanced's review against another edition

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emotional funny reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Maybe it’s because I’m not much of a music person but this one just didn’t click with me. It could also be that I’ve outgrown the age where falling in love over a two day period is normal and exciting? The writing was beautiful though and I loved the sentiments and life lessons expresses throughout. 

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foreverinastory's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I loved this! It was so fun and just what I needed right now. Leah Johnson can do no wrong in my mind.

Rise to the Sun is a dual POV contemporary romance that revolves around the Farmland Music & Arts Festival. In it we meet Olivia, she's recently ended a toxic relationship, has asthma and needs something fun to do with her best friend, Imani. Our other narrator is Toni, Farmland has been her home, just like music has. But one year ago Toni lost her father to a robbery and shooting and she's still trying to process her grief and figure out what comes next for her.

While this book still addresses serious topics: gun violence, sexual harassment, distributing naked photos of minors, and grief, it also is such a joyful book. This book is definitely more joy than trauma and seeing the MCs be happy and live fulfilling lives at this festival made me happy. I enjoyed this book so much and I can't wait for Johnson's next book.

Rep: Black bisexual female MC with asthma, Black lesbian female MC with PTSD and anxiety, white heterosexual male side character, Black sapphic female side character, white sapphic female side character. 

CWs: Body shaming, chronic illness (asthma), death of parent, mental illness (anxiety & PTSD), panic attacks, racism, sexism, sexual harassment including sexual coercion, bullying. Moderate: abandonment, gun violence, grief. 

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spaghettireads's review against another edition

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adventurous funny lighthearted sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25


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starlessnights's review against another edition

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2.5


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